Studying the Rheological Properties of a Polylactide Melt Mixed with Wood Filler

Abstract

Composite materials based on wood filler are promising materials that are actively conquering the market. This is due to the advantages of using these materials in various fields: weather resistance and environmental compatibility, easy machining and possibility of recycling. Furthermore, it is sustainable use of wastes of timber sawing and furniture and woodworking industries, as well as low-grade wood. Wood powder is also known to be one of the components of consumables used in additive 3D printing technologies. Over the last decade, the commercial use of 3D printers has increased rapidly due to the fact that it allows creating prototype objects of complex shape based on a computer model. Experimental studies were carried out to determine the tensile strength and rheological properties of a composite made of polylactide 4043D, untreated wood powder brand 140 and wood powder thermally modified at 200 and 240 °C. The composite is intended for creation of three-dimensional objects by extrusion using a 3D printer. It was found that with an increase in the amount of filler in the composite, the tensile strength decreases. Also, samples with thermally modified filler show an increase in tensile strength in comparison with samples with untreated filler. Prototypes of 3D threads with different composition were obtained, during the study of which the melt flow index was examined. It was found that with increasing temperature of wood filler treatment the melt flow index increases. With a lower content of wood powder in the melt composition, there is a 2-fold increase in the melt flow index. The knowing of the rheological properties of the resulting compositions will allow achieving maximum performance and reduction of energy and production costs.